andy88890 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Thought Id start a project thread as Ive now got some progress pictures. I bought the car on ebay about a month ago requiring 'a little work' Turns out it needs rather a lot. It had a Rover 3.5 V8 conversion done in 1991 by a company in Oxford which Im still researching. The car sounds great and as you can imagine is pretty pokey especially with the manual 5 speed box as well! Anyways heres a few pictures of when I first got the car. Progress photos from the garage. Repair work to the rear drivers sill, front inner wing and progress work to the passenger side sill and large hole(s) to the brake servo area. The sills are going to be waxoiled and Im really happy with the quality of the work so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1393 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 (edited) I know this car! It belonged to Steve Messenger. He used to live in Stanton St John, Oxford. I remember when he bought it in 1991 or 1992, however can't remember him ever using it. It was stored at his Dads house. It had the conversion done before he got it. I don't know who carried out the work. Edited November 10, 2012 by paul1393 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy88890 Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 Ah someone who knows it! Yes I found an owners card under the seat with his name on. From what I know he sold it to a friend of his who did nothing with it and then it was sold to the guy I got it from. Be great to find out more about it, I did make contact with the owner after Steve but havent heard from them about all the mods it has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bris jas Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 Whats your plans for the car? Im in later stages of finishing my Manta hatch with TVR 4.0 engine with 5speed LT77 gearbox, rear diff 1041 locker from a 940 volvo est. Bias pedal box full roll cage etc. If you need any help with any mods ask away. How are the brakes coping with the extra load(BHP,Torque)as i believe the rover engine is lighter if not the same as the 2.0? Good luck with the welding, i think i went through 2 bottles of gas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB15 Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 It's a lot of hard graft (welding) but it'll b worth it in the end , I started my sportshatch project years ago But still needs a paint job lol , Good luck with her , she'l b sum toy for next summer , Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy18s Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 How much work was needed to fit the Volvo axle Bris? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bris jas Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 (edited) After a bit of head scratching and lots and lots of measuring we cut the spring cup brackets off the Manta axle and welded them on the Volvo axle, making sure the brackets were welded on the right angle so the axle fits square to the car and also the diff flange is facing the gearbox correctly once the car is on the floor. I've also used spax lowered Manta springs and the original arms. The Volvo axle comes with a 2 link control arms so i fabricated a box section in the floor to allow for this. The axle is about 40mm wider than the Manta (i think i've remembered that right) so i've been able to use Volvo 5 stud alloys wheels which fit under the arches just right and of course the axle comes with disc brakes as standard which is a bonus. I had a pair of front hubs made to the same 5 stud pattern so all looks good. Edited December 16, 2012 by bris jas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy88890 Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Small update, all welding work (both sills inner/outer, bulkhead, pass. side inner wing, floors) is now completed and sills have been waxoiled. Dropped off a set of new shocks and a second hand brake servo last Saturday so the car just needs MOT'ing. I say 'just' trying to be positive, the brakes need complete refurb, a lot of the electrics (lights etc) need cleaning up and a few other bits and bobs. But Ive nearly got it back! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRAZYDAVE Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Looking forward to the updates on this one Love seeing something that bit different Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynamytedan Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 (edited) how did you get on at the MOT ? all good >? nice wheels btw .... let me know if you want to sell them Edited February 18, 2013 by dynamytedan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy88890 Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) Hi Dan, still in the garage mate, had to fit a new servo and the only one i could get my hands on was a Manta A one so theyre modifying it to suit my car. Once thats done though it should be back on the road! Really like the wheels on the car and was pleasantly suprised to find they are quite valuable! If I wever do come to sell them though you can have first refusal Edited February 20, 2013 by andy88890 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy88890 Posted December 11, 2013 Author Share Posted December 11, 2013 Well thought I'd pop in and give an update. Believe it or not the car is now Mot'd (although still in the garage) as its been a nightmare with getting all the electrics recommisioned, had a lot of trouble with relays etc. Its got an overheating issue at the moment so thats beeing investigated. Its been with this garage over a year now so I am not kidding myself that it will be done before Christmas as they do jobs on it as and when they have some spare time to keep my final cost down. Fingers crossed for the new year so I can finally fit the recaro interior and all the other goodies I've accumulated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiney_norman Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 Good to see it's still coming along Andy! Was wondering the other day what had happened to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novasportc550 Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 Looking good man... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy88890 Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 (edited) Breaking news!! Its finally coming home this Saturday! All Mot'd and road legal now. Started her up last night at the garage and its sounds amazing. All I need to do now is get a new radiator as the current one is half blocked. You guys have any idea what my current one is off? Dont think its standard cav/manta as it looks a lot bigger to me. It has the filler at the top on the right hand side, I thought it was the SD1 rad, but looking at pictures of them they dont have a filler where mine does? And a few photos I found after a lot of digging around on the internet for the cars history! Edited January 15, 2014 by andy88890 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Congrats , no idea what thats off , but a alternative would be to get the existing one recored Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 get a new radiator as the current one is half blocked. Take it out first and flush it through from both directions, also,whilst your at it, flush the rest of coolant circuit particulary the heater matrix, they always clog up with silt, if the radiator still appears blocked (if it's got sludge/silt in it will wiegh a lot more than it should) you could try something to flush it with, Halfrauds must sell something or even kettle de-scaler. Otherwise looking good, who'd suspect an old brown Cavalier to be capable of going really quick ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiMarco Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) Nice to see another V8 Edited January 16, 2014 by DiMarco 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy88890 Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) Hi guys, need some help... is anyone in the Burnley area that would be kind enough to collect a wing for me, package it up and send it to me? I'm desperate to buy it from ebay but can't justify an 8 hour round trip! OR If someone has a good sportshatch wing passenger side (no indicator hole) I would be interested! Edited July 11, 2014 by andy88890 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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